[Federal Register: February 4, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 23)]
[Notices]
[Page 6548-6549]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04fe08-83]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Approval of Noise Compatibility Program; Hartsfield-Jackson
Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, GA
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its
findings on the Noise Compatibility Program submitted by the City of
Atlanta under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. (the Aviation Safety and
Noise Abatement Act, hereinafter referred to as ``the Act'') and 14 CFR
part 150. These findings are made in recognition of the description of
Federal and nonfederal responsibilities in Senate Report No. 96-52
(1980). On April 10, 2007, the FAA determined that the noise exposure
maps submitted by the City of Atlanta under Part 150 were in compliance
with applicable requirements. On January 24, 2008, the FAA approved the
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Noise Compatibility
Program. All of the recommendations of the program were approved. No
program elements relating to new or revised flight procedures for noise
abatement were proposed by the airport operator.
DATES: Effective Dates: The effective date of the FAA's approval of the
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Noise Compatibility
Program is January 24, 2008.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott L. Seritt, Federal Aviation
Administration, Atlanta Airports District Office, 1701 Columbia Avenue
Campus Building, Suite 2-260, College Park, Georgia 30337, phone
number: 404-305-7150. Documents reflecting this FAA action may be
reviewed at this same location.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces that the FAA has given
its overall approval to the Noise Compatibility Program for Hartsfield-
Jackson Atlanta International Airport, effective January 24, 2008.
Under section 47504 of the Act, an airport operator who has
previously submitted a Noise Exposure Map may submit to the FAA a Noise
Compatibility Program which sets forth the measures taken or proposed
by the airport operator for the reduction of existing non-compatible
land uses and prevention of additional non-compatible land uses with
the area covered by the Noise Exposure Maps. The Act requires such
programs to be developed in consultation with interested and affected
parties, including local communities, government agencies, airport
users, and FAA personnel.
Each airport noise compatibility program developed in accordance
with 14 CFR part 150 is a local program, not a Federal Program. The FAA
does not substitute its judgment for that of the airport operator with
respect to which measure should be recommended for action. The FAA's
approval or disapproval of part 150 program recommendations is measured
according to the standards expressed in part 150 and the Act, and is
limited to the following determinations:
a. The Noise Compatibility Program was developed in accordance with
the provisions and procedures of 14 CFR part 150;
b. Program measures are reasonably consistent with achieving the
goals of reducing existing non-compatible land uses around the airport
and preventing the introduction of additional non-compatible land uses;
c. Program measures would not create an undue burden on interstate
or foreign commerce, unjustly discriminate against types of classes of
aeronautical uses, violate the terms of airport grant agreements, or
intrude into areas preempted by the Federal government; and
d. Program measures relating to the use of flight procedures can be
implemented within the period covered by the program without derogating
safety, adversely affecting the efficient use and management of the
navigable airspace and air traffic control systems, or adversely
affecting other powers and responsibilities of the Administrator
prescribed by law.
Specific limitations with respect to FAA's approval of an airport
Noise Compatibility Program are delineated in 14 CFR part 150, Sec.
150.5 Approval is not a determination concerning the acceptability of
land uses under Federal, state, or local law. Approval does not by
itself constitute an FAA implementing action. A request for Federal
action or approval to implement specific noise compatibility measures
may be required, and an FAA decision on the request may require an
environmental assessment of the proposed action. Approval does not
constitute a
[[Page 6549]]
commitment by the FAA to financially assist the implementation of the
program nor a determination that all measures covered by the program
are eligible for grant-in-aid funding from the FAA. Where Federal
funding is sought, requests for project grants must be submitted to the
FAA Airports District Office in College Park, Georgia.
The City of Atlanta submitted to the FAA on March 29, 2007, the
Noise Exposure Maps, descriptions, and other documentation produced
during the noise compatibility planning study conducted from February
6, 2003, through September 5, 2007. The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta
International Airport Noise Exposure Maps were determined by FAA to be
in compliance with applicable requirements on April 10, 2007. Notice of
this determination was published in the Federal Register on April 10,
2007.
The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport study contains
a proposed Noise Compatibility Program comprised of actions designed
for phased implementation by airport management and adjacent
jurisdictions from September 5, 2007 beyond the year 2012. It was
requested that FAA evaluate and approve this material as a Noise
Compatibility Program as described in section 47504 of the Act. The FAA
began is review of the Program on September 7, 2007, and was required
by a provision of the Act to approve or disapprove the program within
180 days (other than the use of new or modified flight procedures for
noise control). Failure to approve or disapprove such program within
the 180-day period shall be deemed to be an approval of such program.
The submitted program contained seven (7) proposed actions for
noise mitigation on and off the airport. The FAA completed its review
and determined that the procedural and substantive requirements of the
Act and 14 CFR part 150 have been satisfied. The overall program,
therefore, was approved by the FAA effective January 24, 2008.
Outright approval was granted for all of the specific program
elements. These determinations are set forth in detail in a Record of
Approval signed by the FAA on January 24, 2008. The Record of Approval,
as well as other evaluation materials and the documents comprising the
submittal, are available for review at the FAA office listed above and
at the administrative office of the City of Atlanta. The Record of
Approval also will be available on-line at: http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/airports/environmental/airport_noise/part_150/states/
.
Issued in College Park, Georgia, on January 25, 2008.
Scott L. Seritt,
Manager, Atlanta Airports District Office.
[FR Doc. 08-464 Filed 2-1-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M